Monday’s Don’t Always Have to Suck

For years, my Mondays were fueled by stress, anxiety, and data. As an executive marketer, Monday mornings meant pulling reports, presenting reports, rallying my team, and shifting everything around the next fire drill. My Sunday nights were spent over-analyzing, rearranging calendars, and stressing about how I’d balance work and life. Spoiler alert: I never found the balance.

I canceled dentist appointments to make meetings, skipped dinners to stay late, and let laundry pile up because there simply wasn’t enough time.

But now? Over a month into being unemployed, I can tell you this: Monday’s don’t always have to suck.

The Shift from Sunday Scaries to Monday Peace

During COVID, I was still grinding at full speed, and my husband Adam used to tell me, “Monday’s don’t always have to suck.” At the time, I didn’t believe him. Now, I get it.

Without the crushing weight of job stress, my Sunday nights hit different. No dread. No endless calendar shuffling. No panic about reporting data at 8 a.m. Monday.

This morning, I still rushed out the door, but this time it was to hit my workout, come home excited to write, and even build a new plant stand for my growing collection. Instead of dread, I felt energized.

Planting Joy (Literally)

One of my favorite new hobbies has been the jardiniere journey, something I never had the energy or mental space for before. I just ordered the Decent Metal Plant Stands, 5-Pack, and they’ve already turned my backyard into a little oasis. Heavy duty, sleek, and anti-rust, they’re perfect for both indoors and outdoors.

It’s funny how something as simple as building a plant stand can feel like such a win.

The Job Hunt Reality

Don’t get me wrong,  I’m still grinding. I’ve submitted nearly 45 resumes and cover letters, tailoring each one carefully. So far, silence. And I get it: a lot of companies are looking for marketing executives but hiring coordinators instead, paying them less for the same skill set.

But after 25 years of climbing, I know my worth. I’ve worked too hard to accept less. I refuse to settle for less than fair compensation, even if that means avoiding the return of Sunday scaries and an unbalanced work/life scale.

Gratitude & What’s Next

With every recipe, every blog post, every piece of this site, I’m pouring love and gratitude into something I truly believe in. When this site pops (and I know it will), I want others to feel like they’re a part of it too.

So if you’re reading this and want to contribute, share your story, or just follow along, welcome. Let’s rewrite Mondays together.

xoMS